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Thursday, 8 November 2012

HARASSMENT CONTINUES FOR WOMEN

Harassment
continues for Swazi women

(Statement: the Centre for Human Rights and Development, Swaziland,
8 November 2012)

The plight of women in Swaziland is far from over as
parliamentarians opposed the protection of women from stalking. Senators were
discussing the longstanding Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Bill of 2000
yesterday. The proposed law seeks to protect among others women from unlawful
stalking.

The senators argued that stalking was part of social
cultural norms hence proscribing it will violate the culture of Swazis.
According to the Times of Swaziland (8 November at page 5) one senator decried
the criminalization of forced marriages saying that such custom was more
important as it ensured that a girl’s father was able to benefit from his
daughter’s marriage since the girl would be given to a man who has cattle to
pay lobola.

Culture has continued to be used as a shield to condone
the violation of human rights in Swaziland. During this time of the year a
group of men identifying themselves as members of the”water party,”( a group of
men who are commissioned by royalty to traverse the country ahead of the annual
incwala ceremony), go around the country harassing and imposing fine on
women who are not properly dressed according to Swazi cultural norms.

This is despite the Constitution guaranteeing the
protection of women from deleterious customs. The Swazi Constitution also
contains equality and non-discrimination clauses which ought to serve as a
yardstick for the treatment of women.

Swaziland is party to the Convention on the Elimination
of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and other regional and
international human rights instruments having a bearing on women, hence the
continued violation of women rights on the basis of culture demonstrates the
country’ failure to comply to its international obligations. During Swaziland’s
human rights review session in March this year, several recommendations were
made regarding the protection of women which Swaziland accepted and undertook
to take action. It is disheartening to see parliamentarians openly condoning
discriminatory customs as one would have hoped to see positive action being
taken to eliminate such practices.

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ALERTS@DignityFirst is a periodic update on global issues
touching on human rights, good governance and democratisation, issued by the
Centre for Human Rights and Development operating out of Swaziland
(www.dignityfirst.org). Recipients are urged to circulate information and share
with colleagues in their networks.